U18 SCHOOLS CUP FINAL: STEWART’S MELVILLE V MERCHISTON CASTLE SCHOOL

The opening 20 minutes of play saw possession of the ball switch between Stewart’s Melville College and Merchiston Castle School several times as both teams fought it out for the opening score, displaying exceptional amounts of talent between them.

A number of opportunities were on the cards for both sides to get onto the scoreboard, but it was Merchiston who got things underway with a fantastic try from winger Amaan Raza who powered his way across the whitewash after 22 minutes of play.

Another 10 minutes of entertaining, but for the most part equally matched play followed with both sides struggling to capitalise on their attacking phases.

But just minutes before the first half concluded, Merchiston began creeping their way back into Stewart’s Melville’s territory. Stringing the phases together to gain ground, Merchiston were able to add to their tally with a try from Alex Callaway, who sailed down the right wing with roaring crowds backing him over the line.

Half time Stewarts Melville 0 Merchiston 10

Stewart’s Melville came out the tunnels with a determined outlook, and within just minutes of the restart found themselves some five meters out from the try line, before unfortunately conceding a penalty. However, the side remained unphased by the near setback, and soon found themselves with ball in hand again as they continued to search for five points.

Finally, the search was over! Stewart’s Melville’s hard work paid dividends with a try scored from a pick-and-go taken by prop Aidan Symes. James Lewis added the extra to take the score to 7-10.

But Merchiston were quick to respond in an attempt to shut their opponents down, and some five minutes later inside-centre Lachlan Ferguson scored his side’s third try of the evening.

Similar to the opening half, after a further 10 minutes of well-matched contest played out, but it was a line out on Stewart’s Melville’s 15-meter line which would open up play for Merchiston to bag their fourth try, as they encroached further into their opposition’s half.

Stewart’s Melville worked hard to drive Merchiston back, but it wasn’t quite enough to stop the ball making its way across to the left wing to find Amaan Raza for his second try of the night with less than 15 minutes on the clock.

However, Merchiston were soon dealt a blow as their Number 8, Tom Currie was shown a yellow card by referee Jonny Perriam for a dangerous tackle, which would see them down to 14-players for the remainder of the game.

It looked like Stewart’s Melville might get back onto the scoreboard again as the sides packed down for a scrum meters away from the Merchiston try line. Winning the ball from the scrum, Merchiston looked to get rid of the ball from the danger zone, but Stewart’s Melville were able to gather the ball and began to move it through the hands to the wing. Unfortunately, the last pass to their winger was called forward, dashing their hopes for another score.

And just some moments later it was all over as the referee blew the whistle. Merchiston Castle have retained the U18 Cup title, which they had previously won in the 2018/19 season.

Full time: Stewart’s Melville College 7 Merchiston Castle School 20
Player of the Match: Matthew de Villiers

Stewart’s Melville
15. Monty Dunlap 14. Rob Henderson 13. Louis Lew Suer 12. Benjamin Roger 11. Finn Macfarlane 10. James Lewis 9. Jake Burns 1. Aidan Symes 2. Elliot Young CAPTAIN 3. Jamie Limb 4. Robin Pratt 5. Alfie Maitland 6. Charlie Burns 7. Freddy Douglas 8. Gregor Thomson

16. Ed Waugh 17. Charkes Harte 18. Josh Spencer 19. Kieran McMillan 20. N/A 21. Cameron Ross 22. James Gordon 23. Isaac Johnston

Merchiston Castle School
15. Ben Riley 14. Alex Callaway 12. Luke McCarroll 12. Lachlan Ferguson 11. Amaan Raza 10. Isaac Coates 9. Matthew de Villiers CO-CAPTAIN 1. Angus McGregor 2. James Sibbaid 3. Robbie Deans CO-CAPTAIN 4. Oliver Palmer 5. Jonathan Blair 6. Torin McGregor 7. Glen Crawford 8. Tom Currie

16. Max Gray 17. Gordie Stephen 18. Calum Macdonald 19. Mackenzie Brown 20. John Wight 21. Thomas Robertson 22. Drew McCall Smith

​U16 SCHOOLS CUP FINAL: DOLLAR ACADEMY V GEORGE WATSON’S COLLEGE

In the U16 Schools Cup Final, it was George Watsons who took an early lead in the first half with full-back, Fergus Ferguson, placing the ball down between the posts to claim five points, followed with a successful conversion from Andrew Cameron.

And just moments later George Watsons were back on the board as Lewis White made his way back over Dollar’s try line, where Andrew Cameron was once again at hand to add the extra points.

Dollar Academy made continuous efforts to keep within their opponents 22, and they were soon rewarded with a try in the 15^th minute of play, score by flanker John Hulme. Angus Crockett made the conversion with ease.

But George Watsons response was strong, as open-side flanker, Harrison Wood, hurdled through the defence to score the team’s third try. Andrew Cameron enjoyed a third successful kick.

But it wasn’t long before Dollar’s Angus Crockett was back in action as he both scored and converted his try.

Moments before the half time whistle, a line out some five metres away from Dollar’s try line allowed the Edinburgh-based side to show their strength to push the opposition pack back over their line as Cameron Geddes scored their final try in the first half, followed by Andrew Cameron converting once again.

Half time: Dollar Academy 14 George Watsons 26

It only took five minutes in the opening stages of the second half for George Watsons to score their fifth try of the game, scored this time by Captain Michael Connor, with Andrew Cameron adding the extras.

From the restart, Dollar were quick to react and a score followed under the posts, which allowed Andrew Crockett to easily convert the try.

In the 48^th minute Dollar’s John Hulme scored his second try, this time on the right-hand side of the posts to take the score to 19-33.

George Watsons still had plenty to give, and Harrison Wood scored his second try of the game. Andrew Cameron then slotted another conversion to extend their lead.

And just minutes later Lewis White, for George Watsons, saw a gap in Dollar’s defence to score his second try. Andrew Cameron then added to his streak of successful conversions.

As the final whistle drew closer, Dollar relentlessly powered through a series of phases and eventually, Angus Crockett was able to dart his way through George Watsons defence to score, before going to to convert.

Despite Dollar Academy’s continuous efforts, it was the George Watsons who came out on top to lift the U16 Cup.

Full time: Dollar Academy 26 George Watsons 47
Player of the Match: Harrison Wood

Dollar Academy
15. Frederick Disborough 14. George McKie 13. Jamie Morton 12. Rio Arbuckle 11. Tyler Hunter 10. Angus Crockett 9. Fraser Keatch 1. Georgios Tachtatzis 2. Kieran Pritchard 3. Rory Purvis 4. Harrison Staples 5. Ben Smallwood 6. John Hulme 7. Archie Dayman 8. Archie Jaffery-Smith CAPTAIN

16. Angus Wright 17. Angus Lumsden 18. Matthew Ross 19. Fraser Cadell 20. Stuart MacKay 21. Alexander Pettigrew

George Watsons College
15. Fergus Ferguson 14. Matthew Cingel 13. Jamie Thomson 12. Josh Loukes 11. Lewis White 10. Andrew Cameron 9. Euan Walker 1. David Brown 2. Michael Connor CAPTAIN 3. Cole O’Reilly 4. Mark Fyffe 5. Angus Moran 6. Cameron Geddes 7. Harrison Wood 8. Finlay MacIntosh

16. Ewan Stewart 17. Cammy Balfour 18. N/A 19. Nick Reid 20. Michael McAndrew 21. Patrick Kneen 22. Duncan Maguire 23. Daniel McKinnon

U18 SCHOOLS SHIELD FINAL: QUEEN VICTORIA SCHOOL V LORETTO SCHOOL

Queen Victoria took the lead in the 11^th minute after they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts. Aminio Bogidrau opted for a drop kick instead of kicking from the tee and put it between the sticks.

But Loretto got the opening try of the encounter and went in front just two minutes later, with Henry Thomas crashing over and captain Harry Bone slotting the conversion.

Loretto continued to press and got a second try in 19^th minute, as Joss Arnold dived over from a metre out.

And in the 24^th minute they had a third. Good footwork from Finn Duraj saw him sidestep three defenders on his way under the posts.

Duraj scored a second and Loretto’s fourth in the 30^th minute when he intercepted in midfield and ran into the right corner.

Half time: Queen Victoria School 3 Loretto School 24

Loretto built further on their lead in the 40^th minute, with Harry Bone finding a gap at the side of a ruck and stretching for the line.

Finn Duraj bagged a hat-trick in the 45^th minute after the Loretto forwards had spent several phases on the Queen Victoria School line.

A lineout maul on the 56^th minute secured Loretto’s seventh try and a fourth for Duraj.

Queen Victoria grabbed a try with the last play of an entertaining contest.

Full time: Queen Victoria School 8 Loretto School 43
Player of the Match: Finn Duraj

Queen Victoria School
15. Michael Draunidalo 14. Jaheem Thomas 13. Amena Caqusau 12. Theopil Natiri 11. Rays Gurung 10. Aminio Bogidrau CAPTAIN 9. Benjamin Main 1. Subhaashish Gurung 2. Roman Gurung 3. Mitchell Pratt 4. Alex Skinner 5. Joseph Ruickbie 6. Euan Lee 7. Shameer Gurung 8. Aidan Horsburgh

16. Robert Cordiner 17. Elliot Jones 18. Magnus Gothard-Olver 19. Cameron Brown 20. Lewis Andrews 21. Joe Long

Loretto School
15. James Hastie 14. Charles Arthur 13. Hugh Kerr 12. Henry Thomas 11. Joshua Ferguson 10. Harry Edwardson 9. Harry Bone CAPTAIN 1. Ross Brown 2. Finn Duraj 3. Sorley Seenan 4. Archie Lang 5. Joss Arnold 6. Matthew Ballantyne 7. James Lindsay 8. Josh Davis-Edwards

16. Gabriel Pearce 17. Tom Shanks 18. Rory Day

U16 SCHOOLS SHIELD: NORTH BERWICK HIGH SCHOOL V QUEEN VICTORIA SCHOOL

In the thirteenth minute, after a tap penalty from five metres out, Queen Victoria School took the lead when Sam Leweni found a gap and dotted down before converting his own try.

Leweni then scored a brilliant second in the twenty-first minute as sidestepped his way through the North Berwick defence and put the ball down under the posts.

North Berwick then hit back through Max Barbour, who forced his way over from close range after 26 minutes.

And less than a minute later they had a second try as Finlay Mitchell won the race to a grubber kick and dived on the ball over the line, reducing the deficit to four points.

Mitchell then scored a second in the thirtieth minute, giving North Berwick the lead for the first time. A wonderful conversion from the left corner was slotted by Joe Hunter.

Half time: North Berwick 17 Queen Victoria School 14

Nine minutes into the second half, Queen Victoria regained the lead with a try in the right-hand corner from their debutant and youngest player, Jeshon Thapa, which was brilliantly slotted by Leweni.

And Leweni was back in action, where at 50 minutes he completed his hat-trick with an incredible solo try, gathering his own kick and sprinting under the sticks before converting it himself.

North Berwick continued to battle hard and had some near opportunities to add to their score but unfortunately couldn’t quite capitalise.

Thapa had another try, Queen Victoria’s fifth, in the 57^th minute as he dived over in the right corner for a second time to wrap up the win.

Full time: North Berwick 17 Queen Victoria School 33
Player of the Match: Sam Leweni

North Berwick High School
15. Finlay Mitchell 14. Harry Dunkinson 13. Cameron McIntyre 12. Joe Hunter 11. Tom MacKay 10. Finn Ryan 1 JJ Wallace 2. Tadhg Finlayson-McCarthy 3. Angus Waddell 4. Perry Angel 5. Max Barbour 6. Andrew MacAskill CAPTAIN 7. Callum Perry 8. Woody Martin

16. Moray Seaton 17. Callum Masson 18. Hamish Green 19.
Jamie Perry 20. Angus Gray 21. Luke Felton 22. Alex Smith

Queen Victoria School
15. Ayden Paterson 14. Joeli Halofaki 13. Jason Osie-Bonsu 12. Sitiveni Qalo 11. Luke Lewis-Bannis 10. Sam Leweni CAPTAIN 9. Charlie Scott 1. Daniel Evans 2. Jay Pearson 3. Suyen Limbu 4. Josh Knocj 5. William Kurisaru 6. Josh Ferrier 7. Daniel Rae 8. Hendry Vono

16. James Douglas 17. Lewis Loudon 18. Darren Young 19.
Savenaca Golea 20. Finlay Jones 21. Jeshon Thapa 22. Ethan Sim